To bridge the digital / wired life divide, BSNL is planning a massive WiMax rural network. Affordable computing device – Nettop will be provided by HCL Infosystems powered by Intel’s Atom processor [ as a consumer, they’ll have no choice of Geode processor by AMD ]. This is not it, Intel has backed big on the WiMax technology and that is an additional bonus for selling their processors.
It is a fantastic initiative by the Government under controversial Telecom minister A.Raja. However, absence of choice for consumers and fair approach in the deal making raises more questions. Examining closer, BSNL’s Rural WiMax is USO funded [ It is our Money]. Now is the Ministry offering part of USO funds to HCL Info so that Netttops can be subsidized ? Very likely 🙂 The silent winner in this deal is Intel 🙂
You gotta love this Lobbying / Monopolistic approach of Intel 🙂 Of the Americas, European Union [EU] and Asia, it is only the EU that has been fair towards consumers by blocking monopolistic deals and imposing penalty on companies. Intel was fined by EU $1.45 Billion for anti-competitive practices. And, no I didn’t forget about Microsoft. sigh.